WASHINGTON — The Central Intelligence Agency announced Thursday that it would review its process for handling allegations of sexual assault and harassment after allegations that the agency had discouraged people from filing formal complaints or mishandled them.
Members of Congress have begun an investigation into the agency’s handling of sexual assault and harassment complaints filed by female CIA operatives. Also, at the request of the Senate, the CIA’s inspector general has begun a review of the organization’s handling of complaints, officials said.
Lawyers for the women say the CIA has used classification arguments to make it difficult for women to get legal representation. The agency has also created roadblocks that have made it difficult for people to file federal complaints or investigate the issues outside of the police force, the lawyers said.
On Thursday, the CIA announced it had hired Taleeta Jackson of the Navy’s Sexual Assault Prevention Program to head the agency’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office. Dr. Jackson will be tasked with improving how the CIA responds to allegations of sexual assault, the agency said in a statement.
The CIA also said it would establish an internal task force advised by outside experts to streamline its process for addressing sexual assault and harassment. At the end of May, the agency will release new guidelines for reporting such episodes, the CIA said. Officials said the goal is to make it easier to report misconduct internally or to outside law enforcement.
In a statement, William J. Burns, the director of the CIA, said he met with “affected officers” to listen to their concerns and see how the agency could improve.
“We have no higher priority than taking care of our people,” said Mr. Burns. “We will continue to act quickly and systematically to address issues and improve our approach to these critical issues. More reforms will follow.”
The CIA’s statement on Thursday acknowledged that the previous process for handling allegations was flawed and suggested it was too difficult for agents to get help or legal guidance. But it’s not clear if the agency will re-examine any past cases as part of its review of its procedures.
Kevin T. Carroll, an attorney representing a woman who filed a criminal complaint against another CIA officer, said the task force was “an excellent first step.”
But he said the CIA needs to review how it handles criminal complaints, which law enforcement agency handles them and what victims are allowed to tell investigators.
The CIA “also needs to reform its instructions to victims about speaking with law enforcement,” Mr Carroll said.
Mr Carroll said that when his client grew frustrated with the agency’s lack of action, she approached the House Intelligence Committee in January. Congressional intelligence committees oversee the CIA, and its employees have security clearances, allowing them to request information from the agency.
The problems with the handling of allegations of assault by the CIA were previously reported by Politico.
In other cases, the agency has also discouraged people from filing complaints under the equal employment opportunity process, making it difficult for women to get compensation for harassment or assault at work, said Kevin Byrnes, a lawyer representing seven agents of the bureau.
Under federal law, workplace harassment complaints must first be heard by the agency before going to the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. While individual agencies are supposed to appoint a neutral adjudicator to investigate complaints, Mr Byrnes said the CIA had not done so.
“Sexual harassment is not classified,” Mr Byrnes said. “sexual assault is not classified.”
In addition to his seven clients, Mr Byrnes said 18 other people had contacted him about episodes that had occurred, but too much time had passed for them to file a complaint under federal procedures. He said the agency is still defending its handling of equal employment opportunity complaints.
“I’m glad there’s a blue ribbon committee, but let’s see what happens,” said Mr Byrnes.